Judy LaJoie

We are the makers of possible: Finding Pure “Joie” in Her Role in Medical Affairs

For more than 20 years, Judy LaJoie worked alongside doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals in a hospital setting providing bedside care to patients in need. It gave her joy and inspired her as she positively impacted the care individuals were getting – something that she has continued to experience for the past eight years in her role as Senior Director of Medical Affairs for Medication Delivery Solutions (MDS).

“I was a bit hesitant to make a career move from the hospital to BD several years ago because I was unsure of the contribution I could make to patients,” said Judy. “But through my work at BD, I have found that I can actually have a global impact through the programs and services I’ve been able to help create here.”

One of those programs, vascular access-related assessments, reached over 30,000 clinicians and ultimately, supported the practice improvement of more than 200,000 nurses every year – earning her a BD Jeffrey Sherman Life-Changer Award in 2021.

BD welcomes individuals just like Judy who are passionate about creating strategic impact for patient experiences and advancing the world of health by being bold and innovative.

What is an average day like for a Leader in Medical Affairs?

Judy notes that no two days are alike. Her role relies heavily on her now more than 30 years of nursing experience to help support customer communications and interactions.

“My days are a combination of helping support questions and queries from our salespeople and customers, and then conducting research as some of the requests can be very specific. We are constantly doing research in our quest for learning more about applications of our devices and solutions in the marketplace,” Judy said. “It’s exciting to be able to apply my past experiences to help current customers and, in the end, the patient.”

Pastry Chef or Nursing? Insights Support her Career Path

Judy noted that growing up she actually wanted to be a pastry chef. But with the care and guidance of her father and a close family friend who was a nurse, she soon found confidence and interest in helping others through a healthcare career.

“My friend’s mom was a huge influence in my choosing nursing as my career. The more she painted the picture of what nursing entailed, the more interested I got. She was a driving force in supporting my career for two decades and helped me dig deep and assure me that I could find success in this industry. She always emphasized to me that anything that came my way, I could figure it out and move forward. She was also a life teacher for me and helped push me out of my comfort zone, which I am grateful for,” concluded Judy.

About the Jeffrey Sherman Life-Changers Award Program

Every year, BD asks its 75,000+ associates to consider nominating an exceptional colleague who is making a lasting impact on those around them, both at work and outside of work.

The Jeffrey Sherman Life-Changers Award program launched in 2016 and is named in honor of former BD EVP and General Counsel, Jeffrey Sherman, who passed away following a brave 10-month battle with pancreatic cancer. The annual Life-Changers awards are one of the favorite traditions at BD – because these prestigious awards honor “the best of the best” within the organization.